I consider Lester Bangs and Jesus Christ both personal heros. They both died at exactly my age. Another hero Hunter Thompson had an alter ego named Raoul Duke he at some point found himself merging with to the point where he wasn’t sure where Thompson started, where Duke ended and who everyone else was expecting to meet. 

My friends have dubbed my alter ego “Festival Seth”. Festival Seth emerges when both responsibilities and liabilities simmer to a minimum, consequences are slim and illicit chemicals are in no short supply (Bonnaroo, SXSW, etc). A drug-addled zombie music journalist who functions remarkably well to everyone’s amazement and seemingly cheats death with every appearance. 

What few understand is that Festival Seth is like the Voltron of my inner demons who lock together like five mighty lions of inequity and spend their downtime anticipating the next opportunity to yield its mighty sword of hedonism. There was a time when Seth “Gravy” Graves and “Festival Seth” were virtually one in the same and entire weeks would be spend pushing my body to its remarkable limits. 

Several arrests and life lessons later, I’ve learned my demons are kept at bay. But like all addicts – and I am an addict. My vice is no particular chemical, but hedonism and reckless abandon by any means necessary – i’ve got other triggers. Stress and Boredom can send me spiraling free of my loathsome responsibility putting my career, safety, and relationships in danger. This blog is not only an open book of my struggle, but a really terrible idea. 

But what’s the fun of being both a trainwreck and an artist if you can’t combine the two? Be it a spiritual journey or a path to self destruction, I’m documenting my life and thoughts into a blog I’m sure you can and will use against me at any given time.